Taffeta & Hotspur (17 page)

Brother and uncle eyed one another,
and then Tarrant, a bit skeptically.

Taffeta eyed them all and finally let
go with her thoughts. “Now … hold on a moment, all of you. I am
very capable of looking out for myself, and I will not be kept a
prisoner because of a blackguard.” She eyed Tarrant defiantly, “I
won’t be curbed by…”

“
Do not test me, my love.
You wouldn’t like it, not one bit.” Tarrant grinned wickedly at
her, and she found her mouth opened, closed, and then opened again
without anything coming out.

Seth beamed, “Aye then Taffy, what say
you?”

“
I say, I know well enough
how to watch my back, and so I shall—so should we all.”

Chapter Eleven

The four left the coffeehouse, but
their chattering continued. Taffy noted to herself how quiet and
thoughtful Tarrant appeared. She was also aware that his fingers
caressed her cloak as they stepped outdoors.

Nigel turned to Tarrant, “Do you come
to m’aunt’s with us for there are a few questions I still have for
you, Tarrant?”

“
Aye, have one or two,
m’self,” said Seth looking his way.

Taffeta smiled at Tarrant and urged in
hopeful accents, “Do come with us…” Her voice was soft and
cajoling, because all she knew was she wanted his company forever.
As she spoke, she stepped backward and did not realize she had
stepped to the edge of the curbing, tripped there, lost her
balance, and wind-milled her arms. This spooked a horse being
walked by a lackey. She saw everything that happened flash before
her eyes. The skittish horse reared up and came down before she
could jump out of the way, and its left hoof caught her soundly,
freakishly just below her bosom.

The lackey yanked on the poor spooked
horse and pulled him to order with a sharp reproof, but the damage
was already done, and Taffy was bent over in pain. As she attempted
to straighten up, she squeaked out, “Lord, flush hit…”

“
Sunbeam… My sweet love…”
Tarrant cooed as he took her up into his arms cradle styled, turned
to Seth, and demanded, “Hail a hackney at once!”

Her brother did so at once leaving
Nigel to care for her. Taffy saw him stop and watch, and knew from
his expression he had come to some conclusion. She saw a slow smile
curve his lips, but was in too much pain consider what he might be
thinking.

Her brother had finally caught the
attention of a hackney, and she thought she might faint as pain
shot through her when Tarrant gently saw her situated in the
carriage. He climbed in beside her and Seth and Nigel
followed.

A few moments later, they were home,
and the rakehell Hotspur placed her in a reclining position on the
sofa where he solicitously looked after her.

At this point, she knew from the
rolling eyes her brother and uncle were giving one another, she
would be teased pitifully as soon as Tarrant departed.

“
Be easy, my lord… It is
naught…” Taffy assured the Hotspur as she tried to wipe off her
brother’s wicked grin with a glare.

“
I would feel better if you
would let me tend the bruise…” he said, and it appeared to her that
he was not at all put off by the fact both her brother and her
uncle were privy to this.

Taffy stared at him, warning in her
expression, and he laughed out loud, “Think I care for the
proprieties when you have been injured?”

“
But I am perfectly fine, I
do assure you,” she replied, gritting her teeth for she could see
her brother’s expression and knew as soon as Tarrant left, he and
Nigel would quiz her relentlessly.

“
I have been kicked a time
or two, my dear, and know otherwise. You are very brave, and we
shall leave it at that for now. I shall leave you to rest and hope
you will be well enough to attend White’s soiree tonight where I
will be looking for you—only you.”

She felt herself blush and met his
gaze. It was as though no one else existed, as though life revolved
around the moments they were together. When had this happened to
her? She had always been so independent … and now, now she needed
so much more than herself. “Must you leave?” she asked on a soft
note.

“
If you wish me to stay, I
shall, but I have one errand that must be discharged …
soon.”

“
Then do go … take care of
it, for it must be important. My brother and Nigel will look after
me.” she said softly.

He kissed her hand. “It is of the
utmost importance, nothing else could take me from you at this
time.”

Tarrant stood up from the sofa,
turned. Seth went forward to shake his hand and Nigel grinned
idiotically as he extended his, all under Taffy’s gaze. She put a
hand to her forehead.

“
Gentlemen, I trust you to
look after our precious treasure and shall see you this evening.”
So saying, he strode out of the sitting room and was
gone.

“
I say!” said Nigel, staring
hard at Taffy.

“
Indeed, sister mine, you
have some explaining to do!” Her brother grinned from ear to
ear.

“
Why, don’t you
approve?”

“
Approve?” relied Nigel.
“Damn, if you aren’t close to bagging the catch of the
century!”

~*~

The door was flung open, and Taffy
exclaimed, “Cathy!”

Catherine stopped short and gasped.
“Oh … what is wrong? You are hurt … how … oh no, this is awful…
Whatever has happened—what?” she demanded coming forward to sit on
the sofa with her, shrugging off her bonnet and gloves, and taking
Taffy’s hand.

“
It is nothing,” said Taffy,
waving it off with her free hand. “Got kicked by a horse … my
fault, wasn’t watching where I was going … startled the
brute…”

“
Oh Taffy … poor dear… Shall
I take you upstairs and have a look at it?” Catherine frowned with
concern.

“
No, not now. It is bound to
be black and blue. That is what bruises do; turn black and blue and
then heal. There is nothing to be done. Now, why did you explode in
here as though the devil was on your heels?”

“
Yes, Cath, you did do that,
you know,” Seth agreed with a nod.

Nigel inclined his head, and both men
pulled up their chairs closer to the sofa. Something definitely was
toward for Catherine’s excitement was almost a visible
force.

She eyed them all and said, “You know
the other night … when I stayed over here?”

“
Yes,” said
Taffy.

“
Papa was
attacked!”

“
What?” shrieked her
audience as a whole.

Miss Frome stood up, removed her
spencer of maroon brocade, and sat with a thump. Taffy was
impatient as she urged her friend to proceed. She waved her hand
and winced.

“
Yes … attacked.”

“
Go on, do … Cath…” Taffy
encouraged.

“
By highwaymen who called
themselves very loudly, and made certain Papa heard them, the
Rogues Three,” said Cathy as she gazed at her friends.

Silence reigned for a moment, and then
Taffy found her voice. “How do you know this? Surely, your papa did
not tell you?”

“
No, of course he did not. I
… knew something was … wrong … and I listened in on his
conversation when Sidmouth paid him an early visit this
morning.”

Taffy snorted and laughed. “Cathy, you
astound me. You eavesdropped? I am so very proud of
you.”

She blushed. “Yes … but I had to. You
see, Papa seemed … odd, and I was worried about him…”

“
What I should like to know
is … what do you know about the Rogues Three?” Nigel asked
gravely.

Cathy’s hands folded and unfolded in
her lap. “Why do you ask?”

“
Catherine Frome, answer my
uncle,” demanded Taffy, eyeing her quizzically. “Oh, my. You have
guessed, haven’t you? Why, you cunning thing.”

“
Only because I know you
three quite well, and I know your views regarding the plight of the
Luddites. I thought … perhaps you might support such a thing … and
then, well … three…” her voice trailed off.

“
Let us not say anything
further…” said Seth making a fist and coughing into it. “One never
knows who may be about … servants and such.”

“
Well, this attack on your
father, what could they have wanted?” asked Taffeta.

“
To steal documents meant
for Wellington … but, the Home Office was aware and did in fact
expect the brutes to attack. They had a plan you see … and set a
trap of sorts. I couldn’t quite hear everything—but I knew it
wasn’t the Rogues Three of Nottingham. Needed, however to … er …
warn you of the situation.”

“
Yes, our rogues have
retired, but it is a shame their name is being sullied like this,”
said Seth with a sigh.

“
Who are these traitors, and
why would they betray their country?” Taffy asked, not really
expecting a reply.

“
Money,” answered Nigel. “It
is always about money, which brings me to another subject. Stay
away from Bruton, young lady. He is after you for one reason
only.”

Taffy laughed. “I loathe
him.”

“
Do you?” asked Seth with
surprise. “You could have fooled me, sis.”

“
I meant to fool him, so if
I fooled you, I did my job, but as you say… I think I shall now
turn him up cold. I’m weary of the sport.” She saw her friend was
blushing furiously and immediately said, “Now, what of your papa?
Did he suffer any injury?”

“
No, no, he is fine and
apparently pleased.”

“
Good, so now tell me … what
of Fenmore?”

Again, Cathy blushed, and Taffy
giggled deliciously, “Ah … also good.”

“
Here is the thing,” said
Nigel, as he looked penetratingly at Miss Frome, “Catherine, what
does your father know about the Rogues Three? Does he believe they
are one and the same as the ones who worked Sherwood
Forest?”

“
From what I overheard, they
have their doubts, but they don’t care really. They mean to set a
trap for the fellows. I was interrupted when one of our servants
came out of the dining room, and I couldn’t very well allow her to
see me listening at the door.”

Taffy laughed. “No, and in fact, it
amazes me you did so…”

“
Well, I knew something was
wrong, and I was worried—although when I took to listening, I
didn’t realize it would have anything to do with you
three.”

Seth reached over and patted her on
the arm, pronouncing, “You are a right ‘un for all your frills and
quiet, a right ‘un, and if Fenmore doesn’t propose to you, I think
I will!”

She blushed and slapped at the young
duke, “You will not, you horrid tease … now stop it.” She turned
toward Taffy, who moved on the sofa and found it brought her some
discomfort and winced again.

“
Oh Taff, what you need is a
hot bath. Come along, let me take you upstairs, and we’ll have hot
water brought up.”

Taffy sighed. “Yes, I think if I am to
feel better by tonight, I must do something.”

Nigel and Seth were silent before they
regarded one another under Taffy’s watchful gaze. “We need to find
out a bit more…” Nigel said.

“
How?” answered
Seth.

“
Tarrant,” they both
answered at once and then grinned to see Taffy shake her
head.

~*~

The music was low and sweet. The night
air was cool and inviting. Lady White’s soiree buzzed with the
inevitable squeeze, and Taffeta wore Tarrant’s posy with delicious
pride.

He had remembered, even though he had
implied he had serious matters that needed attention, to send round
a posy for her with a note that said simply, “I am yours …
Thurston.”

She felt as though she could walk on
air, and then she was dancing on his arm. A cotillion, and then a
waltz, and he seemed determined not to leave her side. She saw
astonished dowagers looking their way and hiding behind their fans
as they gossiped. She giggled to herself and then out loud. To
Tarrant she said, “Well, you certainly are causing quite a bit of
commotion.”

“
Am I? Well, as to that,
there will be even more of one when they read the paper in a few
days and see the banns have been posted.”

“
Banns?” Taffy looked
straight up into his eyes.

“
I have already received
permission from your aunt and brother. It leaves only you to seal
my fate,” he answered quietly.

“
Thurston Tarrant … are you
picking up the cap I said I wouldn’t throw your way?” She scarcely
got the words out.

“
I am.” He took her gloved
fingers and held fast. “Shall I take you outdoors and get on one
knee, sunbeam?”

“
No … ask me here, ask me
now!” she demanded, joy taking over her senses.

“
Will you do me the honor of
becoming my wife and making me delirious all the rest of my
days?”